Home Visit Whilst Off Sick

Hi I’m hoping someone can advise ..I have been signed off sick for the next few weeks, but received notice from my employer that they wish to do a home visit. Do I have to agree? I have already been told that I will have to do a formal sickness meeting when I return to work, so I don’t understand why I have to do this home visit too? I really don’t want them in my house, and I don’t really want to think about work until I feel well enough.

Can they “legally” ask? To me, it smacks of “we don’t trust you, we need to see you with our own eyes before we’ll believe you are sick”. They could maintain it’s to ensure the wellbeing of their employee. More likely it is practice in an SME - I couldn’t imagine it being common practice in large corporates, where they are heavily proceduralised and tend to keep a distance for fear of stepping over the line.

Could you decline? It might be better to offer an alternative if you don’t feel comfortable having your manager visit your house. Tactfully side-step rather than outright refusal would be best imo. Your response could be that you would prefer to be permitted to recuperate during your sick leave but you would be more than happy to give updates by phone or email. If you are signed off for 3-4 weeks for example you could suggest a weekly status update is appropriate.

Remember the Fitness note is a legally binding document, which covers you for the absence, as your GP stating you are not fit for work.

I wouldn’t suggest meeting in a public place when on sick leave. It would give a mixed message. If the person is on sick leave, they shouldn’t need to start jumping through hoops to put themselves before their manager, just to prove a point.

The company has to trust the employee is genuinely on sick leave. If they don’t, it’s a bigger problem imo.

Our work policy is to keep open dialogue if you’re sick, if it’s something like work related stress then I’d be inclined to speak to my staff with the offer of different resolutions but I’d do this by phone to be honest

Ask if it can be by phone instead - can’t see why they’d need to physically see you?

Flexible Jobs

The purpose of the meeting isn't sinister. An employer has a duty of care to employees and that doesn't stop when someone is absent from work.

I would genuinely want to know if there is anything the company can be doing to make it easier for the person to return - any adjustments to the work environment or working hours i.e. a phased return. We also need to know for planning - do we need to fill the post on a temporary basis. A short absence we might be able to do spread the workload; that probably wouldn't be possible if a longer absence is anticipated.

I'd want to demonstrate that we do care about the employee and are thinking about them. I would update on any news or developments at work. It's usually easier - and welcomed - to do home visit but equally happy to meet for a coffee or lunch which is sometimes appreciated for someone who is off with a long term issue.

contact can be maintained by phone/email, no need for a visit, the employee is off SICK.

I care too much about employees to not visit and unless they were laid up with something so serious they couldn't function or were contagious then a visit is appropriate. Calls and emails might happen as well although that's actively discouraged unless it's purely social.

Becles the only time I've had a visit refused was by a manager who had taken sick leave with the express purpose of avoiding disciplinary action.

There is an awful lot of suspicion regarding positive working practices on this board. Everyone assumes it's a "checking up on you" exercise when it's just an employer fulfilling a basic duty. Damning indictment of the state of employment today.

I can understand it though - in my workplace its policy that you have to phone in yourself if you're off sick. My current manager will accept email, but I had a colleague who's boss would not accept anything but a call, even though she kept irregular working hours, and her voicemail seemed to always go missing..when she got her husband to call because she couldn't stop throwing up to speak, he got an earful about it not being within the rules (no concern)...she has moved on now, but there are plenty of bosses who are not caring or concerned, and seem to he trying to catch their hardworking staff out :-(

OllyBJolly very few people get invited into my house; my disdain for this practice has nothing to do with 'suspicion' and more to do with who I am comfortable with, and I am NOT comfortable with work colleagues visiting me at home.

I also do not believe that it comes from a 'caring' concern! The very idea is laughable.

I'm currently off sick from work. My boss has been round to see me and she and other work colleagues have text or called regularly (I was signed off for 28 dsys). My boss couldn't have been more supportive.

If you're off sick there is a likelihood that the person feels defensive even about things like their house not being as organised / clean as they would want. It puts them under pressure to feel "on parade" at a time they feel under the weather.